Caretaker Gets Prison for Stealing from Elderly

RENO, NV - A Reno woman will serve at least six years in prison for emptying the bank account of the man she worked for, a 91-year-old World War II veteran.

Thursday, Sherry Crawford and Leonard Onesty saw each other for the first time since she left him literally stranded and broke, and fled the state.

Crawford was his caretaker for most of two years, and during that time, had control of his finances and more.

Thursday, Onesty told Judge Jerry Polaha how he learned of her theft only after she left him stranded at the VA hospital while she fled. It was only then that he checked his bank account and found he had just $60 dollars left, along with a pile of bills. Investigators would eventually put his total loss at $119 thousand.

Crawford pleaded guilty to exploitation of a vulnerable person.

In a statement read to the court before sentencing, she said she took responsibility for what she did and she briefly, at the judge's urging, turned to Onesty and apologized.

The judge sentenced her to 15 years with a minimum of 6.

Onesty told KOLO 8 News Now he was happy with the sentence, but wished it had never happened.

He says he's been able to pay all the bills she left unpaid and now has $3 thousand in the bank.

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